The world of automobiles has made some drastic changes in the past century. And each new year brings more advancement in car technology and innovative improvements to features and accessories. The future looks bright for car buyers and for car manufacturers.

However, all that brightness might make someone nostalgic for the days of old, when the automotive industry was young. Or perhaps just a bit curious about how it all began.

The first foreign cars. Way back in the 15th century, Leonardo Da Vinci was working diligently on designs and prototypes for transport vehicles, but unfortunately, none ever came into being.

It wasn't until 1769 that an inventor in France built a working self propelled vehicle. His name was Nicolas Cugnot, and the vehicle was a steam powered military tractor.

In Scotland, around 1839, Robert Anderson took a ride in his creation, which he called the Electric Carriage. Today's modern hybrid cars use technology based upon the ideas first dreamed of almost 170 years ago!

But the legitimate title of Automobile Inventor would have to go to German inventor, Karl Friedrich Benz. It was in 1886 that he received a patent on the world's first gasoline powered automobile, it had a combustion engine, and three wheels.

The first American cars. In the United States, the first patent issued for an automobile was granted in 1789, to Oliver Evans. He performed an amazing demonstration of his vehicle in 1805, when he dazzled onlookers by showing the crowd that his automobile was able to travel on land, and in the water by using a paddle wheel. Proudly crowned the first amphibious vehicle, as well as the first American steam powered vehicle, it never quite made it to production for the public.

It was in 1893 that Charles Edgar Duryea, and his brother Frank introduced to America the first gasoline powered car that worked the way it was supposed to. These two engineering brothers also started the first American automobile manufacturing plant.

Mass production in the United States. The Duryea Motor Wagon Company began producing cars in 1893. By 1902 however, the automotive industry was following the lead of the Olds Motor Vehicle Company, which had been founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. When that fledgling company began to fail, Ransom left it behind him and opened the doors to the REO Motor Car Company, and which we know by the name of General Motors today. A common and frequent mistaken belief is that Henry Ford invented the first car. Henry created his first car in 1896, it was known as the "Quadricycle." He had formed and lost two other car manufacturing plants by 1903, when he started The Ford Motor Company. However, it was not until the production of the Model T in 1908, that Henry Ford knew real and lasting success. His most famous contribution to the automotive industry was that he invented the first assembly line conveyer belt that revolutionized the manufacturing of automobiles, the assembly lines were up and running in his factory by 1913. It was not long before all the others had them as well, and the rest is history.

Cheap Car Subwoofers:

Enjoy powerful, accurate bass in your vehicle with today's component subwoofers. Get more information about the latest car subs online.

Car Speakers:

Check out the latest car speakers products and systems online.

Cheap Car Amplifiers

Get a stronger bass sound with a wide selection of car amps systems.

Subwoofer Box

It's really important to get the box that best fit and match your subwoofer or speakers. Read more about subwoofer enclosures types and sizes.

GPS Navigation Systems

Never loose your way again. Travel relaxed and arrive on time. Check the latest GPS navigation systems including in dash and portable gps units.

Car Electronics Brands

Pioneer Car Audio

Pioneer is a Japanese international company that focuses in digital entertainment products, located in Tokyo, Japan. Pioneer electronics was founded in 1938 in Tokyo as a radio and speaker repair store. Today, Pioneer is famous for technology advancements in the consumer electronics business. Pioneer assisted to innovate interactive cable TV, the Laser Disc player, the first car Compact Disc player, the first detachable face car stereo, their Supertuner technology, DVD and DVD recording, plasma display, and Organic LED display (OLED). The company's works with optical disc and display technology and software products and is considered a manufacturer.

JVC Car Audio

Victor Company of Japan, usually referred to as JVC, is considered to be an international consumer and professional electronics corporation based in Yokohama, Japan which was founded in 1927. JVC is well-known for introducing Japan's first televisions, and developing the VHS video recorder. JVC is mostly known in Japan by the Victor name, preceded by the Nipper dog His Master's Voice logo. JVC is, however, not allowed to use it outside of Japan. Conversely, the HMV store chain exists in Japan, but they are not allowed to use the His Master's Voice motto and do not use the Nipper logo; it is replaced with a stylized image of a gramophone.

Sony Car Audio

Sony Corporation is the electronics business unit and the parent company of the Sony Group, which is engaged in business through its five operating segments - electronics, games, entertainment (motion pictures and music), financial services and other. These make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world. Sony's principal business operations include Sony Corporation (Sony Electronics in the U.S.), Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Sony Financial Holdings. As a semiconductor maker, Sony is among the Worldwide Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders.

Kenwood Car Audio

Kenwood electronics started in 1946 as the Kasuga Radio Co. Ltd. In Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. In 1960, the Kenwood was renamed "Trio Corporation". 1963 saw the foundation of Kenwood USA, the first overseas office of Trio, in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Audiobahn Car Audio

Audiobahn's force has been climaxing at a swift rate since the company's beginning in the late 90's. AudioBahn's imaginative amplifier designs, outstanding signal processors, and the offensively fan-favorite flame collection continues to leave their competition trailing behind. Audiobahn's amplifiers and subwoofers integrate all of the characteristics that you would require from a tremendously powerful corporation: Performance, quality, and design - including more pioneering characteristics than you can think of! Audiobahn's line of products have always and will continuously be the choice of the automotive fans and experts, producing the clarified and clearest music that you can ask for.

Kicker Car Audio

KICKER acoustic engineers spent two years tweaking and fine-tuning the most serious statement ever from the first name in bass, and the results are ridiculously scary. New for 2007, presenting three select versions of the original monster%u2026 SoloX%u2122 Subwoofer. How do you improve on a patented mechanical marvel? Since the S18X debuted in 2003, KICKER engineers have been working to make SoloX more advanced. This year they went all the way, creating the world's ultimate bass machine.

Alpine Car Audio

Alpine Electronics, Inc. (%u30A2%u30EB%u30D1%u30A4%u30F3%u682A%u5F0F%u4F1A%u793E, Arupain Kabushiki-gaisha?) (TYO: 6816) is traditionally known as an aftermarket car audio and navigation systems manufacturer, famed for their high quality, high price in-car audio units commonly known as headunits. It is a subsidiary of Japanese electronics manufacturer Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

In 2006 Alpine's turnover came 76% from OEM business, mainly to premium vehicle brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Acura, Volvo, Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover. It is a subsidiary of Alps Electric Co. and its registered head office is in Tokyo, Japan. However its main offices, or the real headquarters, are in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

Established in 1967 as Alps-Motorola - a joint venture between Alps Electric and U.S.-based Motorola - it became Alpine Electronics, Inc. in 1978 when Alps bought out Motorola's share of the company.
Alpine offers a wide range of items, including in-car multimedia, amplifiers, speakers, subwoofers and signal processing equipment.

Boston Acoustics

Founded in 1979, Boston Acoustics is a high end manufacturer of home and mobile audio equipment operated out of Peabody, Massachusetts.

Boston produces speakers for the home and cars. They also produce equipment which is factory-fitted to a variety of cars including Chrysler 300, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum, Dodge Caliber, Jeep Commander, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Compass, Honda Accord and Honda Civic vehicles.

Boston Acoustics produced home loudspeakers like the HD series, and Lynnfield. The tweeters were reported to be matched within 1.5 decibels of output like expensive high end drivers. They had a reputation for high end sound, but moderate prices.
In August 2005, D&M Holdings completed their acquisition of Boston Acoustics. BA continues to operate as a D&M subsidiary.

JL Audio

Manufacturer of car audio subwoofers, enclosures, component speakers, and subwoofer enclosures.

Rockford Fosgate

ockford Fosgate was one of the major players in the creation and development of the car audio industry. It is still a major brand.
Their major product is their amplifiers, although they also produce speakers, subwoofers and source-units such as CD headunits.